Does the Human Liver Regenerate Itself?

Liver function is not affected even after 75% of hepatocytes (chief functional cells that form the main tissue of the liver) are dead.

The human liver that performs over 300 functions has the ability to regenerate itself. The marvel of liver can be gauged from the fact that just 25% of liver tissue is enough to renew itself. So, even after removing half of someone's liver, the remaining part can regenerate to standard size of the liver.

Certain cases like acetaminophen overdose can lead to severe liver injury, causing 50 to 60% destruction of liver cells. Here, the liver can fix itself completely in a month's time, provided there aren't any other complications. However, experts are yet to identify the exact mechanism by which the liver can regrow, despite losing significant amount of mass.

Although the liver has the potential to renew its own cells, complete regeneration may not be possible if the damage is too severe. For instance, if complications occur after liver damage, it can arrest the process of liver regeneration leading to formation of scar tissue.

With the passage of time, scar tissue gradually occupies the space of healthy liver cells, eventually leading to liver failure. In such circumstances, a liver transplant surgery is the only option to help the patient survive.

Although it is cited in medical literature that a 3 to 6 month period is usually the duration for the liver to regenerate itself after surgery, recent study reported in the journal Liver Transplantation  has observed that liver regrows at a much faster rate, taking as little as 3 weeks to regain its original size after liver transplantation.

So, when a part of liver is transplanted from the donor to the recipient, the healthy portion of the liver in both the donor and the recipient reach their normal size in less than a month. The new study result is promising and particularly holds good prospects for patients affected with advanced liver diseases.

Medical experts also agree that the liver regrows swiftly in the first couple of weeks after surgery but maintain that liver regenerate back to its full size in up to 6 months.

One can either mar or increase the chances of liver to regenerate, depending upon what is included in the diet. To put it simply, liver regeneration after damage is possible only when a healthy diet is followed. Eating the right food can detoxify the liver and boost its capacity to renew itself.

• As alcohol is directly metabolized in the liver, it can burden the liver and hamper its rebuilding process. So, make sure to discard all forms of alcohol from the diet.

• Fatty foods such as butter, fried products, hamburgers, organ meats, bacon, steaks and sausages should also be avoided, as they have been linked to increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Eliminating fatty foods can certainly support the liver in renewing healthy cells.

• Adding a variety of fruits and vegetables to the diet can go a long way in increasing its ability to repair itself. Eating onions and green vegetables like kale, artichoke, leeks, arugula and bitter gourd as well as fruits like apples, oranges and strawberries that are high in antioxidants, can improve liver health and facilitate its regeneration.

• Lemon juice is loaded with vitamin C, a nutrient that assists the liver in eliminating harmful substances from the body. So, a glass of lemon juice is recommended to the boost the blood purifying capacity of liver.

• Probiotic foods like yogurt can also assist to keep the liver in good shape. The live bacterial cultures in yogurt help improve liver enzyme levels and even reverse the condition. Herbs like garlic and spices like turmeric are also found to be good for the liver.

On a concluding note, regenerative potential of the human liver is noteworthy. Multiple fat deposits on the liver due to regular heavy drinking is reversible, provided alcohol consumption is stopped.

However, people with chronic liver damage need to take appropriate treatment at the earliest to prevent permanent scarring of tissue and follow a nutritious diet to support liver cell regeneration.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.